May 23, 2009

Box Score

Stockton, Calif. - In the second game of non-conference action against Cal State Bakersfield, the Pacific baseball team claimed the series after a back-and-forth 9-8 victory over the Roadrunners on Saturday, May 23.

With the win, Pacific moved to 21-31 on the year, while Cal State Bakersfield dropped to 12-37.

Entering the bottom of the of the eighth, down 8-7, sophomore J.B. Brown (Alvin, Texas) doubled to right center field to put the Tigers' tying run aboard. Senior Joey Centanni (San Diego, Calif.) then followed him up with a grounder to first that resulted in an out but moved the runner to third base. That led the way for senior Kurt Wideman (Fallbrook, Calif.) to bring in the tying run with the score knotted at 8-8.

Then junior Mike Walker (Marysville, Calif.) followed through with another ground out to advance Wideman into scoring position at second. The table was then set for junior Jamie Niley (Elk Grove, Calif.) who helped out his own cause and secured his win on the mound with a single through the left side that plated Wideman from second as Pacific took a final 9-8 lead.

Preserving the win for Niley was sophomore Thomas Berolzheimer (Stockton, Calif.) who came in relief as the closer in the top of the ninth, retiring the Roadrunners in order. That gave Niley his second win of the season and secured Berolzheimer's fifth save in 2009.

Pacific began the game scoring the first run in the bottom of the second and rode the 1-0 lead into the top of the fifth, when Cal State Bakersfield tied up the contest at 1-1.

The Tigers struck again in the fifth to break open the tie, plating four runs. But the Roadrunners kept in the game and came back again with the go-ahead run, scoring five in the top of the sixth ahead 6-5.

In the bottom of the frame, Pacific continued the back-and-forth, when freshman Josh Simms (La Mesa, Calif.) led off with a single into right field. Brown kept the hot hitting going in the inning with another single that advanced Simms all the way to third. Centanni again came up big, hitting a sacrifice fly out to center that brought Simms across home plate and tied the score again 6-6.

Both Pacific and Cal State Bakersfield tried to pull ahead in the seventh, as each team notched a seventh run before the Roadrunners brought in their eighth and final run for an 8-7 lead entering the bottom of the eighth.

Wideman led all players on the night when he went 3-for-3 at the plate with two RBI and his 24th double of 2009. With that double, Wideman continued to re-establish his mark in Pacific's single-season history for doubles.

The Tigers' final game of 2009 takes place against the Roadrunners to close up the series on Sunday, May 24, at 1 p.m. Since it will be the final game this season, seven Tigers will be honored in their final game of their careers at Pacific. It will also be the final Salute to the Troops Sunday of 2009 in honor of Memorial Day.